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Residents fear vermin are devaluing their homes
16/07/2012
People living in the Brynmill area of Swansea have said that they fear their homes are being significantly devalued by the persistent rubbish and rodent problems in the area.
Local man, David Wilson, spoke to the South Wales Evening Post about the problem, which he said stems from the streets frequently being strewn with rubbish.
The 64-year-old father-of-four said that he keeps having to combat rat and mouse infestations at his home and claims that they have wiped hundreds of thousands of pounds off the value of his home.
“With all the rubbish I have had a rat infestation again, as the rubbish is an open food source for these rodents. My property has been devalued and I can't afford to sell it because of the problem,” he told the newspaper. “I am talking about £250,000 for a four-storey property, according to two valuations. Around 11 years ago I had the house valued at £465,000.”
A Swansea Council spokesman acknowledged the problem in the area, which is very popular with students from the nearby Swansea University, and said they are trying to work with people to encourage good behaviour and waste management from them.
“Four extra collections took place in the Brynmill area at the end of the student term in addition to the usual collection,” the spokesman said. “This led to the collection of 30 tonnes of extra waste in just two weeks.”
